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Title: Molecular phylogeny of Sydowiellaceae, resolving the position of Cainiella

Author
item KRUYS, A. - Uppsala University
item Castlebury, Lisa

Submitted to: Mycologia
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 8/31/2011
Publication Date: 3/1/2012
Citation: Kruys, A., Castlebury, L.A. 2012. Molecular phylogeny of Sydowiellaceae, resolving the position of Cainiella. Mycologia. 104(2):419-426.

Interpretive Summary: Fungi are a group of organisms that cause billions of dollars damage each year to agricultural and forest resources in the United States. One group of fungi includes the species that caused chestnut blight in the eastern United States killing all of the chestnut trees. Many additional fungi belong to this same group and cause diseases of forest trees, wild flowers and crop plants. This research characterizes and illustrates two species in this group that infect arctic alpine flowers. In addition, relationships between these species have been determined based on DNA sequences. This paper will be used by conservation biologists to determine the species of fungi on plants in ecologically sensitive habitats.

Technical Abstract: Cainiella is an ascomycete genus associated with arctic alpine plants. The systematic position of Cainiella has been unclear for a long time with current classifications placing the genus in either Sordariales or Xylariales. Our molecular results, based on mtSSU, ITS and nLSU rDNA data, clearly show that the genus belongs in the Sydowiellaceae, Diaporthales. The study also includes new sequences of Sydowiellaceae, and contributes to a better knowledge of the phylogenetic relationship of that family.